Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Reform of planning laws is an essential part of delivering more homes and faster. We must protect the right of individuals to be heard and for legitimate concerns to require the revision of projects. However, the balance to date has made Ireland an outlier in how long and how often legitimate projects are delayed. This must change and it will change with the new legislation which we will be publishing shortly. Priority will be given to speeding up decisions relating to social, affordable and cost-rental housing. It is unfortunately already clear that the Opposition will vote against this legislation, once again claiming to care while trying to block action. This Government believes in the State playing the central role in providing for people who cannot otherwise find housing. That is why we have initiated a new era in the State purchasing, building and renovating social homes. There have already been more than 18,000 social homes added under the Minister, Deputy O’Brien’s tenure, including over 11,000 newly constructed social homes. We are implementing a range of major supports to tackle derelict sites and to bring them back to use as homes.

The time available in this debate does not allow me to go into detail in every area, but the progress we have made in helping people buy their own homes is not even acknowledged because the Members opposite hold an ideological position of opposing schemes that help people to own a home. In these and in many other areas, any fair evaluation of the record of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Government will acknowledge the progress has begun despite the unprecedented challenges of the last two years. He has not only produced a clear and ambitious strategy, but he is also implementing it and it is making a difference.

San áireamh sna pleananna seo tá gnásanna níos tapúla pleanála, tógála agus forbartha. Tá ré nua i dtithíocht shóisialta agus tá tacaíocht do thithe inacmhainne dóibh siúd ar ioncaim ísle nó mheánaigh. Tá siad seo go léir, agus eilimintí riachtanacha eile, chun athrú ó bhonn a dhéanamh ar sholáthar tithíochta don daonra atá ag fás go leanúnach. Mar a dúirt mé cheana, tá na pleananna atá forbartha agus curtha i bhfeidhm ag an Aire, an Teachta Darragh O'Brien, ag déanamh dul chun cinn suntasach agus athrú chun na maitheasa cheana féin fud fad na tíre.

In the growing division of politics between those who want to solve problems but those who just want to exploit them, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, has shown his ability and his commitment to delivering the sustained action which is the only way of providing the homes our people need.

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